December 26th

The first thing I saw when I walked into the living room was a glint of tiny gold stars scattered on the rug.  The room was still and empty early in the morning of December 26th--not at all the way it had been the day before.  And there they were--shiny little reminders of the deep joy of a day with family all around.

Santa sprinkles gold stars in at least one little gift that the kids get.  It's part of his magic.  Now that they're grown, the guys usually open carefully, on the lookout for the surprise glitter shower of happy messiness.  But Will's Cecilia is new to the tradition, and so the place on the rug where she sat to open her gifts was still sparkling the next morning.  So was my heart.

Cecilia brings warmth and joy whenever she comes to visit; and when she goes home, a little of it lingers.

She's my role model--she and her sparkly perimeter.

A Christmas Hippy (or Angel)
with ribbon and a glitter star from her Santa gift.

Christmas 2010

Paperwhites I planted before Thanksgiving bloomed right on time.
They guarded the best Jelly Belly mix and some Baby's Breath.

Junior and Senior take a break from a serious Wii Bowling game.

Our new living room was full of Christmas:
the stockings were filled, the tree was lit, and a Wii Bowling match was in progress.

This little mouse couple has been part of our Christmas for 35 years.

Ribbon candy and marshmallows + a ribbon star centerpiece on our table.

Steve sat at the bar and watched Steve Jr. and me 'filet some oranges' on Christmas morning.
He even looked up some YouTube demos to help us out.

Steve Jr., Cecilia, and Will posin!

Happy me.

Our invited guests--the Mario Brothers

Steve (aka Mario) and Will (aka Luigi)

Somebody just fell into some hot 'glava'

Cecilia connected all of us on Skype to her Mom and brother in Brazil.

Will watched Cecilia open her Nativity Set.

Steve's Navy Frogman/Battleship collection--finally under glass.
Boyhood memories of the baking soda frogmen and ships are all captured in shadow boxes.

Cuponk!!
The Backhand Backboard installed.

Opening presents is a blur of fun,
especially when it's a cutting board for the novice chef.

Steve is the BEST sous chef!
He's not mad, he's just about to say "Merry Christmas."

Three of the best gifts a mother could ever enjoy . . .

Hello Good Bye

Hello

Good Bye

September . . . October . . . November . . . December . . .

what a blur!

The last 4 months have been filled with transferring every single thing that Steve & I own from one location to another. After 5 months on the market, we sold our home of 7 years and moved from Washington County, where we've spent the past 15 years of our life. We've moved to a new home and have begun to settle in to a new chapter.

Cardboard boxes have been packed and stacked, moved, stacked and unpacked. Ruthless decisions about what we absolutely need have been a spiritual exercise for me. And thank goodness for OCD! I know there are meds one can take for that, but it sure comes in handy when it's time to sort, organize, store, and reestablish.

I love our new space. We purchased it last Spring, and it felt like home even before we moved our furniture in. I really enjoy hearing the sounds of the neighborhood elementary school playground when I'm outside. Guess I'm a city girl at heart; and yet, last month I stopped to take in the flock of geese that flew overhead. What a wonder. It was our years in the country that taught me the timing and seasons for such amazing displays of God's faithfulness.

We've already celebrated a birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving here. We're close enough to family that we delight in "stop by's"--a true luxury for me as Mom. I've enjoyed sewing and laundry with a real washer and dryer!!! Who knew . . .

Obla-di! Obla-da! Life goes on.